Cap retainer for dispensing tubes



May 26, 1942. M. RAUSCH 2,284,020

CAP RETAINER FOR DISPENSING TUBES Filed Aug. 12', 1940 Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAP RETAINER. eon DISPENSING TUBES Louis M; Rausch, Neenah, I Application August 12, 1940,seria1 No. 352,321- Claims. (Cl 221L460) This invention relates to closures for dispensing tubes and more particularly to a cap retaining device especially designed for use oh tubes containing tooth pasteand the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a ca retainer of simple and inexpensive construction capable of being quickly attached to the neck of a tube of tooth paste and which will support the capon the tube while applying paste to a tooth brush so as to prevent accidental displacement or loss of said cap. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap retainer comprising pivotally'connected members, one of which is provided with means for detachable engagement with the neck of a dispensing tube and the other with means. for rotatably receiving the cap or-closure of said tube so as to permit the cap to be unscrewed and swung laterally to open position to allow discharge of tooth paste or swung inwardly toficlosed position in threaded engagement with the discharge nipple of said tube. 1

A still further object of the invention 'isgenerally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efiiciency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which 7 similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

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Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a tube of tooth paste showing my improved cap retainer in position thereon with the cap in closed position,

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the cap swung laterally to open position to permit discharge of the tooth paste,

Figure 3 is a top plan View showing the cap in open position, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cap retainer removed from the'tube.

The improved device forming the subjectmatter of the present invention may be used in connection with any type or style of dispensing tube, and by way of illustration is shown applied to a standard tube of tooth paste, in which 5 designates the body of the tube and 6 the threaded neck or discharge nipple.

The device is preferably formed of resilient wire and comprises coacting pivotally connected members 1 and 8, oneof which is adapted to rotatably receive the cap or closure 9 of the tube a 5 and the other the threaded nipple 6. The member 1 is formed of a single length of wire bent upon itself to form a substantially circular socket I0 adapted-to rotatably receive the depending flange of the cap 9, the wire strands being then bent laterally at l2and forwardly toform a contact finger 13, the end of which is deflected downwardly at M for engagement with the, top

of the cap ,9. After the socket H1 is formed, the ends of the wire are bent laterally in opposite directions to form horizontal pins I5 terminating in finger engaging buttons IS. The member 8 of the cap retainer is also preferably formed of a single length of wire bent to form an intermediate loop I'I adapted to .fit around the threaded nipple 5 of the tube Sand terminating in a downwardly curved finger l8 adapted to bear against the adjacent end of the tube 5. After the loop I! is formed, the ends of the wire are crossed at l9 and extended in opposite directions to formintersecting arms Zil having their ends bent upwardly and thence downwardly to form loops-2l which fit over the adjacent pins I5 and in conjunction therewith form a pivotal connectionor hinge for moving the cap or closure 9 to open and closed positions.

It will here be noted that, inasmuch as the cap retainer is formed of spring wire, the walls 'of the loop I! will yieldably engage the nipple 6 and thus detachably retain the device in position on the dispensing tube. It will, furthermore, be noted that the curved walls of the loop I0 also yieldably engage the cap 9 and, inasmuch as the. finger l3 bearsagainst the top of the cap,

:said cap is held from accidental displacement whileat the same time it is free to rotate within the loop. In positioning the device on a tube of tooth paste, the loop I! is expanded by exerting a slight inward pressure with the thumb and finger on the upstanding portions 22 of the arms 20, thereby permitting the loop I! to fit over the nipple 6. When inward pressure on the upstanding portion 22 is relieved, the inherent resiliency of the wire will cause the walls of the loop IT to resiliently engage the discharge nipple 6. By pressing inwardly on the fingerengaging buttons I6, the loop It] may be expanded so as to permit said loop to fit over the cap 9 and beneath the shoulder thereof, as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. If desired, however, both the members 1 and 8 may be expanded simultaneously by exerting an inward pressure on the finger buttons [6. When this is done, the initial inward pressure exerted'on the buttons It will first expand the loop l0 and a further inward pressure thereon will'expand the loop l1. When it is desired to brush the teeth, the cap 9 is rotated on the threads 6 to released po- 2 sitionpafter which said cap is swung laterally to the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing,

and in which position the paste may be readily discharged through the nipple 6. After cleaning the teeth, the cap is swung inwardly to closed which may be quickly attached to or detached from any style of dispensing tube and which will: support the cap or closure of the tubeat one side of the discharge opening therein when applying 3. The combination with a dispensing tube having a discharge nipple and a closure cap dentifrice to a tooth brush so that liability of the cap becoming accidentally displaced and lost is reduced to a I It will, of course, be understood that the devices may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable-material without departing from the spirit of theinvention;

Having thus described the'invention, whatis claimed-as newisz V. V V.

1. 'The'combination witha dispensing tube havinga discharge'nipple and closure cap; of a cap retainer including an upper. member having a socket adapted to rotatably receive said cap and having portions-thereof intersecting and extended in opposite directions to form pins terminating in finger engaging buttons, and a lower member fitting over and yieldably engaging the nipple of the tube and providedwith intersecting portions terminating in arms having eyes receiving said pins adjacent said buttons to permit the upper member to be swung laterally with respect to the lower member. g V i 2. The combination with a dispensing tube having a discharge nipple and closure cap, of a cap retainer including. anupper member formed of a single length of wire having its intermediate portion bent-to form a socket adapted to rotat ably receive said cap and having'intersecting end portions extending in opposite directions to form pins terminating in finger engaging buttons a lower member formed of asingle length of wire having its intermediate portion bent to form a socket adapted to yieldably engage the discharge nipple of the tube and provided with intersecting portions terminating in arms having'eyes fitting over said pins in spaced relation to said buttons to permit the upper member to be swung laterally with respect to the lower member. 7.

therefor, of a cap retainer comprising an upper expansible member having a socket adapted to rotatably receive the cap of the tube and provided with an overhanging finger adapted to bear against the top of said cap, said upper member with the adjacent end of the tube, the other end of the lower member having portions extending inopposite directions to form angular arms terminating'ineyes fitting over the pins to permit 7 the upper member together with the cap to be swung laterallyto. open and closed positions.

.4.'A cap retainer 'for dispensing tubes comprising coacting pivotally connected upper and lower members, the upper member being formed of'al single length of wire'bent to forman ex.- pansible socket adapted to rotatably receive the closure cap of a. dispensingtube, the Wireafter the socket is formed being crossed and extended in opposite directions to form pins terminating in finger. engaging buttons, the lower memberbeing also formed of a single length'of wire havingits intermediate portion bent to form an. expansible socket adapted to fit over the nipple of a dispensing tube and provided with intersecting arms. terminating in eyes fitting over the pins adjacent said buttons.

., H 5. A cap retainer for; dispensing tubesjcomlprising anupper member vformed of a, single length of resilient wirebent upon itself. to form an expansible. socket adapted to rotatably" re- .ceive'thecap of. a dispensing tube, the wire at one side of the socket being bent to form an .overhanging finger for engagement with the top of said cap. and the wire at, the other side of the arms terminating in eyes receiving said pins.

LOUIS M. RAUSCHQ 

